The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-03-19
sect Thee Behind me-" Organ.


That was very old-fashioned and
old.fogy-alteit inspired-psalmist,
who, i'm phrase familiar to all good
readers of Scripture, and in language
of high nobility, said; at is good
thing to give thanks unto the Lord.
and to sing praises unto Thy name,
o, Most Highest. Upon
an instrument of ten strings and upon
the psaltery upon the harp With SOL
emn sound" The chapter from.which
these words are taken bears the sig
nificant title. "a psalm, or song for
the Sabbath Day." Another is adj
dressed ITO the chief musician upon
Gittith," and in resonant exhorta-
ton admonishes him to "Sing aloud
unto God our strength. Make JOY
full noise unto the God of Jacob.
Take psalm. and bring hither the
timbrel, the pleasant harp with the
psaltery. Blow upon the trumpet in
the new moon-the time appointed
for our solemn feast day." These
simple and honest old prophets seem
to have taught that every adjunct of
a musical quality-every instrument
that could add by its joyful tone to
the glorification of the Most High
was acceptable in the sight of the
Lord. with trumpets and sound
of cornet, make joyful noise before
the Lord" uttered these innocent
worshipers in their heart of hearts.
But it remains for the disciples of the
modern faith, the inventors of creeds,
and not the followers of the work
to inveigh against the use of instru-
ments in the service of the tabernacle.
Here have come together incredible
as it may seem-a convention OF
"United Presbyterians," opposed to
the dissertation of the Lords Day, or
the Lords House, by the employ
ment of any instrument whatever
Even the soul-uplifting. awe-inspir-
ing, solemn and devotional organ,
the stately sanity adjunct of Gods
holy temple, has been relegated to
the rear, as one of the chief agents of
Satan for the distraction of the mind
and the disturbance of the Sunday
peace. 1t is hard to comment with
patience or seriousness upon this Pu-
ritapic ebullition. SoOth to say, the
fools are not all dead nor are the
fanatics all in the mad-house or in
heaven-more's the pity. Only few
brief weeks ago, right here in Chic
ago, a resolution was introduced into
a great convention of one sect Of
Christians, embodying a greeting to,
and blessing upon. another great con-
vention of different denomination,
also here sitting; but it was sternly
and incontinently tabled. There was
all organ in the hall, but its concord
of sweet sounds was uninvoked.
There was not so much as ghost of
st. Cecilia present-else the keys had
trembled in deprecating protest, and
a broader, kindlier, more Christian
spirit had ensued. If there is one
agency which more than any other
on earth inspires the soul to heaven
ward flights and Christly aspirations.
it is that grand and glorious attribute
of the temple of God-the organ.
Whether its tranquiliZing strains are
invoked TO soothe the stricken soul
and to calm the agitated heart. or
whether, gradually swelling into
mighty peans of praise, they pene-
trate through aisles and naves-soar
aloft through the high arches of the
temple, and, defying bounds and
space, penetrate to the very vaults of
heaven, and are caught up and ech-
oed by the angels and archangels in
hallelujahs of thanksgiving and praise
it is all the same. 1t is this grand
organ of the earthly and heavenly
temple that the good Presbyterians
would exclude. Well, they have had
their say, and in good time will have
had their day. Meanwhile, they cry
for a return of the "Do, suddle bum"
of the student precentor and his lean
and hungry, but lusty. chorus of
tympanum-breakers. But the world
laughs at their folly and moves on.
AS we'll invite the incendiary to burn
our sanctuaries altogether as to ban.
ish from their sacred inches the God.
like instrument which is their beau.
ty, their glory and their power
THE Indicator.